Dennis Norwood: Mr. President, Put Down Your Fiddle. Rome Is Burning

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

It would appear as if our president has all but given up - not only on his presidency - but on governing at all. With crisis after crisis at every turn there is no late night candle burning in the White House. Instead that candle is lighting the way for a series of fundraising events.

This, my friends, scares me. Not as a Republican or Democrat, but as an American. Mr. Obama's predecessors, whether from either party, never let this be the norm. When the world was in turmoil, they were there in the Oval Office doing what they could to ensure first, that America was taken care of and, secondly, that our allies were receiving all they needed from Uncle Sam.

To think that the holder of the most powerful office in the world is out filling the coffers of his political party while these events are happening is like Nero fiddling while Rome burns. It leaves me with a very uneasy feeling. This, coupled with his plan to draw our military back to troop levels we haven't seen in more than a few decades, does not bode well for American interests.

We have planned for those decades with the very real possibility that we might be called upon to fight a conflict across three different geographic areas. With a depleted military we will not be able to do this. I know some say that we do not need to be the world's policeman. But, if not us, then who? Isolationism does not make for a defense; 9/11 showed us just how our enemies can bring the fight to our shores. If we allow our enemies to inflict damage or, even worse, to bring down our allies, we will soon find ourself alone in our belief of freedom and democratic ideals.

Our southern border has become a sieve with illegals, now of all ages, pouring through. Instead of shoring up and defending this border our present administration has opened it up, providing aid and solace to all, even proven gang members.

Our Office of Homeland Security has even denied members of Congress and the press the opportunity to inspect these aid stations. Where, Mr. President, is the transparency you promised?

Our economic system is sagging with the requirements this administration has placed on it with its practice of open borders. We continue to provide free services to the estimated 15 million illegals already within our borders. At what point will our economy finally buckle under? This is where I think candidate for the Republican primary in the 3rd Tennessee Congressional District Weston Wamp has it figured out.

We're never going to bus that many people back across the border, but we shouldn't grant them citizenship, either. Mr. Wamp's plan to put them on the tax roles makes great sense. Not only does it let them help pay for their upkeep, it boosts our economy at the same time. Thank goodness that the Canadians are happy at home.

Our longtime ally, Israel, finds itself under arms again. Not at its own choosing, but because it was forced to do so by Hamas. One only needs to review history to see that pulling Israel's chain never goes well for those who attempt it. However, the United States should be making overtures to let the world know that we back our longtime friend.

Here in our own country we see accounts every day that show how badly the Affordable Care Act is not working. Families are losing their health insurance and rates are skyrocketing while here in the Tennessee Valley our own BlueCross BlueShield is asking for a 19 percent increase. Our country needs a plan to ensure every member of every family has access to health insurance. However, voting to repeal it 40 times without offering a viable alternative is not the answer.

When I first became active as a Right-to-Life leader in 1975, Dr. Jack Willke (and his wife, Barbara) were the preeminent leaders at the National level. Rarely did you see one without the other. They literally wrote the book used by Pro-Life activists everywhere, The Handbook on Abortion . I carried it everywhere and studied it over and over. Their books sold ... (click for more)

State Rep. Andy Holt (R-Dresden) is an easy-to-like member of the Tennessee Legislature and the fact he is teaming with state senator Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga) to rid the state of its loathsome traffic cameras is indeed a wonderful thing. The legislative action is long overdue, with the biggest winners being the out-of-state camera companies. That alone is just about all you ... (click for more)

Charles Hosley, 19, was shot and killed Monday night. The preliminary police investigation indicates that during a drug transaction at 310 Sylvan St., a fight broke out and Hosley was shot once. Hosley then left in his vehicle later wrecking in the 700 block of North Market Street. One other person involved in the crash was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. ... (click for more)

Tennessee Temple University, after almost 70 years in operation in Highland Park, is set to close after this semester. Trustees are set to vote on Tuesday morning to merge Temple with Piedmont International University of Winston-Salem, N.C. Students who are not graduating this semester would have the option to continue their education there. Bryan College in Dayton, Tn., and ... (click for more)

There just must be something about playing basketball at Chattanooga State that makes the Central Purple Pounders click. Especially when the opponent is the Brainerd Panthers. Facing Brainerd for the fifth time this season and second at Chattanooga State on Monday night, the Purple Pounders defeated the Panthers for the third time. The latest conquest may have ... (click for more)

LAS VEGAS – The Lee University men’s golf team placed seventh in a field of 16 teams at the Las Vegas Desert Classic. After posting a round of 302 on Sunday the Flames finished with a 301 on Monday and will return to Cleveland with a 603 total in the 36-hole event staged at the Palute Golf Club-Snow Mountain. The University of the Redlands (Calif.), placed by ... (click for more)